The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-07-24
Written for THE HERALD.
MYTHS OF CREATION AND MAT.
TERS OF BELIEF.
No IL.
BY eAsKELL.


There is no difference, or question
among any people but that God made
man, but there is great difference as to
why, and when, and how, He made him
Yet to the earnest eye of sincere faith
there is no mystery and no doubt at
tached thereto. There seems to be two
creations spoken of in the Bible. nor is
the duration of time between the two
mentioned. The science of geology
proves conclusivtly that Genesis is right
in presenting the order in which life
appeared on the earth. The lower Or
deIs of organic life appeared first. super
ior orders aHd classes following, one by
one, and lastly appeared the browning
work of creation, man. These potent
facts, no scientific man will now dis
pute, though points of doctrine, vsgar-
les of belief, and modes of procedure in
the introduction of organic life on the
earth many are eager and ready to as
sail. There are almost endless theories,
where facts are theoretic, or as We may
say speculative, but men generally
agree where the foundation rests upon
scientific data and demonstratable
facts.
"God caused invisible thirgs to be
shown by those that do appear. leaYiI z
to man himself certain labor TO perform
If he would be wise, and he is strictly
DESTROYS of becoming learned in
spiritual knowledge and saving faith.
Words, themselves, we have every rea-
son to believe, were first what We may
call pictorial, each word representing
action, sensation, or impression on the
senses, OF the image of visible objects !;
and, as objects became multiplied, Ian
guage became varied and enlarged. In
the absence OF q knowledge of spiritual
and mental gifts, men were led to ex-
press abstract ideas by words nearest
being representations of bodily impress
sions and feelings. Thus, we see, all
such ideas. in early historic days ex-
pressed allegoricallY, wherever mental
action or desire was to be shown. In
early times, we find, words had not ae-
CURED that varied and enlarged mean
ing they now possess; and the only way
men had 10 communicate spiritual
truths and spiritual impressions was by
using the similitude of something all
were acquainted with, to represent
something approaching kind they did
not know.
As men preceded history, they must
have increased in Dumt er and grown
into a nation before they could have
had a history to write. Even writing
itself manifests a great advancement
from the first stage of knowledge, and
its practice or writing supposes q GER
tain civilization and a cultivation and
study of language, far in advance of
any knowledge possessed by savages,
and reasoning far superior to that of
ignorant tribesmen.
Almost all nations, in certain stages
and conditions of their Utilization, IA Q
been picture writer's. The Aztecs, or
Mexicans, when discovered by CorteZ,
used this mode of communication, so
as to be understood at great distances.
Monte yuma received word this wav OF
the landing of the white man, at Vera
Cruz. Likewise many tribes of North
American Indians had 8 mode of COM
munIcating messages to their distant
friends by means of rude sketches
scratched on the bark of trees or on
stones. In all parts of the world prlmi-
tive sketches of men and animals have
UO0u W VII
ent shades of meaning and to represent
degrees of narrative and adventure.
The original, primitive, gems of all
other religions than those of Christlan-
ity, are man made, and may be traced
back through the dark, long lines of
human culture and association. to the
childish faith and rude rites of savage
life. Reason itself, to the savage, was
but little regarded, for reason with him
was but in its infancy, subject to the
controlling influences of the senses, eEd
they had so little experience that judg
ment founded on their conclusions was
faulty and required frequent revision
aud notifications and judgment re-
NAMED thus faulty until experience
added to experience, intensified by suit
fering and disaster, through succeeded
generations, corrected error and formed
solid grounds for sincere and firm con-
viction. 1t is a self-evident truth. as
we have said, that man has always pre-
coded history, and that much OF his
earlier experience as q race Is unknown
and must ever remain so. Nor Is 1t an
improbable proposition, that as his
history progressed, his knowledge OF
external objects became enlarge d, Tor IL
is ONLY when the wants OF physical
existence are fully supplied, and he has
leisure from the trials of winning mater
ial support that mental and spiritual
cravings are recognized. Thus at ease
and leisure, spiritual wants andimpres-
sIons are recognized and increased.
The -worshipplng Parsi tells US OF
the happy times of King Zuna, during
whose reign, which lasted the short
term of $50, 600 years, men anu animals
we're immortal, vegetation was iuxnr1
ant perennial, fruits were ever rlpe and
in season; were of ravishing flavor =
crystal springs never ceased to flow,
waters never dried mp, for the balmy
nreezes then had no burning .suitry sun
10 scorch them up, all was trsnscendant
beauty and vigorous growth. There was
then no lack of food-no care Tor the
morrow, fer substance was assured ana
men dwelt in peaceaud joy and safety.
There was neither heat nor cold Tor tne
sun diffused genial, grateful warmth
tempered by perfume laden pre- yes,
and winds that never I'M red. NOT was
their anger. nor envy, nor old age.
Existence was one long day OF repose
and peace nor did happiness pail upon
the senses. for strife and quarrel never
disturbed the incident repose OF man.
The name of Eden" means LAND OF
100 - F~aruuhpra has the place OF